Menefee outraises Green in Houston's congressional runoff

Driving the news: Menefee raised roughly $1 million from Jan. 12 to March 31, per FEC filings compiled by Axios.

• Green raised $256,000 from Jan. 1 to March 31 and loaned himself an additional $200,000, records show.
• After campaign expenditures, each had a little over $250,000 on hand heading into April.

What they're saying: Menefee says that 90% of the 15,000 contributions in the first quarter were for less than $100 each.

• "I am incredibly grateful to the grassroots movement powering this campaign," Menefee said in a statement. "The people of the 18th District are ready for leaders who will fight and win, now and for the long haul."

Green's campaign did not respond Axios' request for comment Thursday.

Zoom in: Menefee's top political expenditures in Q1 were for TV advertisements and fundraising efforts, while Green's were for radio and digital advertisements, per FEC data.

Zoom out: In the race for U.S. Senate, Democratic candidate James Talarico hauled in more than $27 million in the first quarter of 2026.

• Talarico's fundraising dwarfs the amount incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. John Cornyn raised during the same period and will play a key role in persuading voters in what is shaping up as a very expensive race.

• Cornyn is facing Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in a runoff.

Yes, but: The Cornyn campaign said it raised nearly $9 million in the first quarter, including $3.4 million in the four weeks after the March 3 primary. Texans for Senator John Cornyn finished the quarter with $4.9 million on hand — and millions of dollars more are supporting Cornyn's campaign through related groups.

• Ken Paxton for Senate raised nearly $1.2 million in the period covering Feb. 12 to March 31, per its quarterly FEC filing. It finished the period with $2.1 million on hand.

What's next: Primary Election Day is May 26.